It’s deserving of recognition even now. I believe the 1980s might have been the peak era for alien movies. There were plenty to pick from, ranging from comedies to horror, and the overall quality was quite good. This film, however, is among the lesser-known ones, possibly because of its gentle approach, and it has unfortunately faded into obscurity. For me, that's exactly what made it work so well, especially since I’m not a huge fan of alien movies to begin with. It really comes across as a straightforward, uncomplicated comedy—pleasant and intended more for entertainment than critical acclaim. It felt like an unassuming project that achieved good results at the time, even earning two Oscars: Best Visual Effects and Best Supporting Actor (for Don Ameche). The story is fairly simple: a group of elderly residents from a nursing home who regularly visit the pool at a nearby abandoned mansion discover that the new owners have replaced the water with massive stones pulled from the seabed. The water is now not only warm but also seems to restore their youth and health. What they don’t realize is that these stones are actually emergency pods left behind by an alien civilization that once had a base in the sea, near what we call Atlantis...and that the new owners of the mansion are aliens from a rescue team sent to retrieve the pods thousands of years ago. The film features a strong cast including Don Ameche, Maureen Stapleton, Jessica Tandy, Wilford Brimley, and Jack Gilford. While younger actors like Steve Guttenberg and Brian Dennehy have their moments, it’s primarily designed to give veteran performers a chance to shine and demonstrate that age is just a number. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say everyone seemed to enjoy the film and proved they were still capable, showing that talent doesn't diminish with time. Brimley and Stapleton particularly stood out; Guttenberg has been better in other roles, and Tahnee Welch isn’t at her best here. Technically, it's a well-crafted movie: the cinematography makes the most of the sunny, seemingly idyllic locations where it was filmed, and the visual effects effectively serve their purpose. You might notice some familiar tropes, like the lighting on the boat or the flying saucer, but as I mentioned earlier, it’s a lighthearted film, and we'd be being overly critical to focus on those details. The score was composed by James Horner, who would go on to collaborate with Howard on several films, and it does its job well without drawing too much attention to itself.

Source on TMDB